Below Deck Down Under Recap: The Worst Boss in the World

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Everyone expected the calm in the kitchen to end eventually. Ellie, known for her fiery temper throughout the show, had been unusually relaxed this season, even considering Ben’s strange way of talking to the women he worked with. Viewers had noticed his habit of calling his assistants nicknames like “honey,” “bunny,” and “babe,” but so far, Ellie hadn’t reacted. However, combined with Ben’s self-pity, complaining, and frequent breaks for baths, swims, and wine, Ellie began to feel like she was doing all the work while he slacked off.

After returning to the boat from their evening out, Daisy confronted João about his use of pet names. Earlier, João had invited Daisy for a drink, but she was too tired, and Ellie – who wasn’t as bothered about being a second choice as Jenna – went instead, thankfully bringing chocolate. On the way home, Daisy also expressed her feelings to Eddy, then turned her attention back to Ben. Ben, wanting to avoid drama, asked Eddy what happened, and Eddy admitted he’d likely ruined any chance with Daisy. Ben pointed out that Daisy wouldn’t have reacted so strongly if there hadn’t been something there, which worried Eddy. Luckily, Eddy seems to take things at face value and plans to learn from his mistake, hoping Jenna will eventually forgive him.

Ellie seeks João’s advice about Ben’s habit of using nicknames, which bothers her. João and the editors point out that Ben calls everyone endearing names like “love” and “sweetie pie,” but Ellie explains that it feels disrespectful when her boss constantly calls her “booboo.” She emphasizes she’s a strong person who has overcome hardship, not someone to be treated lightly. João suggests she talk to Ben directly. The situation worsens when Ben goes for a swim early in the morning instead of starting work, especially since he’d promised her a late start if she cleaned the kitchen the previous day. When she clocked in, he wasn’t even there, having left for his swim almost immediately after arriving, leaving Ellie frustrated and venting to Daisy.

When Ben returns, his new oven should be delivered. Alesia suggests decorating it with red ribbons, and she beams with pride as he admires it, acting as if she’s the one who bought it. This same Alesia and the captain were just talking in the crew mess, where she apologized for forgetting the helmet and promised it wouldn’t happen again—she even said she’d avoid having the helmet in the future. In a private interview, Alesia admitted she’s been given another chance, and she feels pressure to prove how committed she is to her job.

Despite feeling rough from the night before, the crew is starting the new charter with a positive attitude. This four-day charter is unique – it’s a vow renewal for primary charter guests Marc and Clay, and they’ve even asked Jason to perform the ceremony on deck. Daisy feels the pressure to make the experience truly special, so she’s relieved and encouraged by Mike’s willingness to step up and support her. She’s so touched by his sudden kindness that she gives him a hug and praises him for taking the time to think things through. This reminds everyone of a pattern: when the whole crew starts with a lot of enthusiasm, their energy tends to fade as the charter goes on.

Daisy mentions Ellie’s concerns to Ben, but frames them as her own observations to avoid making Ellie look bad. Ben, anxious about being seen as a terrible boss, speaks with Ellie privately. He believes Ellie is resilient and can handle stress, so he isn’t overly concerned about their working relationship. Even when Ellie explains that she felt it was thoughtless of him to take a bath while she was cleaning the kitchen by herself, he apologizes and encourages open communication. Ellie decides not to address the issue of his nickname for her right then, hoping to end the conversation positively. This proves to be a critical error.

This conversation takes place before the charter officially starts, meaning Ben is still feeling refreshed from his swim and is receptive to hearing concerns. It’s the ideal moment for Ellie to share what’s bothering her, allowing them to begin the charter with a fresh start. It’s frustrating that Ellie feels she has to be so careful around her boss, and even more so that Ben constantly mentions his difficult past experiences as justification for his behavior. Considering recent news about the harsh environment at the famous Noma restaurant, Ben’s comments seem particularly insensitive and unacceptable. I believe Ben would have been willing to listen to Ellie’s concerns about his use of nicknames, but by keeping quiet, the issue will likely only escalate.

Honestly, it was a bit of a rocky start to the charter. I felt bad for Alesia, she was just trying to help but ended up slowing us down with the laundry. Daisy told her to stick to making beds, but she couldn’t resist folding a mountain of towels right before guests arrived! Thankfully, Jenna saved the day. Then, as we were getting ready, Neshea found a used panty liner in her closet – super gross and not the first impression we wanted to make! And to make things worse, Mike ran around telling everyone except the captain! Daisy had to break the news to Jason, and he let her know she needed to get things under control. Jenna, who’s responsible for cabin details, immediately took the blame, which Daisy was happy to let her do. Jenna really is Daisy’s right hand, but Daisy is the one who does the inspections, so it should have been her catching things like that. It was a little surprising to see Daisy let Jenna take full responsibility, honestly. She’s usually so on top of everything!

The guests were having fun with the water toys when Christina stumbled as she boarded the boat, refusing Eddy’s offer of help and falling headfirst. Jason checked on her, offering an ice pack and asking if she felt sick, but no one else seemed too worried, assuming she’d just had too much to drink. She recovered by dinnertime, which was a Pride-themed meal beautifully set by Alesia with help from Betul. Everyone seemed to be in good spirits, and Alesia and Mike even congratulated each other on a job well done. There was some disagreement in the kitchen before service – Ellie wanted to start plating food, but Ben thought they should wait until Daisy and her team were ready in the galley to avoid the food getting cold, causing frustration on both sides. However, dinner was a success, and the guests enjoyed the meal. By the end of the night, Ellie felt confident enough to flirt with João.

The next morning, the crew’s initial sense of teamwork was already falling apart. Mike casually walked into the kitchen and demanded an omelette from Ben, which surprised everyone. Alesia, who was nearby, immediately told him not to do that again. True to form, Mike – who always seemed to cause trouble – went straight to Ben to complain about what Alesia had said. Ben defended Alesia, explaining that she was just trying to help and that it wasn’t okay for Mike to ask the chef for special favors. Realizing he was in the wrong, Mike got defensive and snapped at Alesia, telling her she couldn’t tell him what to do. Alesia, frustrated with having to mediate, found Daisy, who was already overwhelmed with managing the conflict between them. She wished they would just focus on their work. Daisy was also surprised by Mike’s request and told him that even if Alesia had overreacted, he shouldn’t be ordering food from the chef.

Mike will likely enjoy hearing that Alexander discovered there’s no toilet paper in his and Neshea’s cabin – the same cabin Alesia had previously inspected and where a panty liner was stuck to the wall. He finds Daisy, Jenna, and Alesia together in the pantry, eager to deliver the bad news. Jenna and Daisy are barely holding it together, and after a rocky start to the charter, they’ll need the next three days to make things right with their guests. Elsewhere, on deck, Marc shares with Betul that his sister, Sofia, didn’t know he was gay, but is now supportive and grateful for the trip. Betul, understanding what it’s like to distance herself from family expectations, responds with genuine warmth and emotion.

The brief positive feeling from their earlier interaction quickly disappears when they return to the kitchen. Ellie, frustrated by being constantly called pet names all day, sharply asks Ben to sharpen knives, rushes to change into her work clothes, and orders him to do the same. Ben picks up on her change in mood, and things quickly escalate when he criticizes how fast she’s preparing the charcuterie board. She overreacts, angrily telling him she won’t tolerate being spoken to like that again. While Ben is understandably stressed about the kitchen being behind schedule, Ellie makes it clear that her name is Elena, not “honey” or “bunny.” She powerfully confronts her boss, accusing him of being a negative influence on the team. Their argument covers everything from her bossing him around to his disorganization and the need for a more positive atmosphere. The final straw comes when Ben suggests she’s overly sensitive. That’s all it takes for Elena to storm out of the kitchen and up the many decks of the Katina, ignoring shocked crew members and guests, and the fact that service has already begun, in order to find Jason on the sundeck. She’s absolutely furious!

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2026-03-24 04:56